South LA Fast Food Ban Backfires

South Los Angeles banned fast food restaurants in the area in 2008, but a new study shows fast food consumption has gone up.

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Turns out a 2008 law banning new fast food restaurants in South Los Angeles hasn't worked out as planned. In fact, it did the exact opposite of what it was meant to do.

KNBC reports: "The idea was to improve public health, but a new study says it didn't work. ... Before the law, 63 percent of South L.A. residents reported being over weight or obese. That number jumped to 75 percent."

According to the lead author in the study, which was conducted by the RAND Corporation, "This should not come as a surprise: Most food outlets in the area are small food stores or small restaurants with limited seating that are not affected by the policy."

The law only restricted stand-alone restaurants, so for instance, fast food restaurants could still open in strip malls. And they did. According to the study, 17 new fast food restaurants opened in the area from 2008 to 2012.